Limited reshuffle won’t do: why Modi well wishers want a full reset

New Delhi: The possibility of a reshuffle in the Union Council of Ministers and changes in the leadership of several BJP-ruled states has been discussed for months. 

However, people familiar with discussions within the BJP and official circles say the case for a comprehensive reset is increasingly being driven by concerns that a negative perception of the central government has accumulated over the past six to eight months.

A succession of controversies, governance-related concerns and complaints about the functioning of ministers has created political baggage for the government, according to people familiar with these discussions. 

You Might Be Interested In

Some of the Prime Minister’s well-wishers believe a limited reshuffle would not be sufficient to address the problem and that a comprehensive exercise involving both the Union Cabinet and chief ministers in some states may be necessary.

The assessment among those advocating a reset is that economic and political concerns have added to the negative perception surrounding the government. Corruption allegations involving chief ministers in BJP-ruled states, media reports about alleged corruption and complaints from party workers about governance in some states have contributed to these concerns. The perceived arrogance of Union ministers has also emerged as a recurring complaint among voters, media representatives and party workers, according to people familiar with the discussions.

The concern is that the problem extends beyond individual controversies. The negative perception surrounding some ministers, their perceived ineptness and complaints about their failure to deliver are no longer confined to the ministries or departments they head.

There is an apprehension that the accumulated negativity could damage the broader public image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, even when the controversies or governance failures in question are not directly attributable to him.

People advocating a comprehensive reshuffle argue that the Prime Minister’s personal standing has remained a major source of political strength for the BJP through its three consecutive terms in power at the Centre. They fear that the continued association of the government with underperforming ministers, controversies and allegations of corruption could gradually erode that advantage. From this perspective, the proposed exercise is being viewed not merely as an administrative reshuffle but as an attempt to prevent the political liabilities of individual ministers from spilling over into the Prime Minister’s own standing.